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Stanley Seah, a doctoral student in psychology, was one of 13 advanced doctoral students awarded the University Fellowship for the 2020-2021 academic year. Read further to learn more about his research, future goals and Kent State experience.

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1. Please give a short overview of your research.
   
   Broadly, my research seeks to understand emotion processing deficits underlying common psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. To this end, I utilize a multimethod approach involving laboratory behavioral tasks, experience sampling and linguistic analyses. In so doing, I hope to identify risk factors that contribute to the development of depression and anxiety as well as identify key targets for treatment.
    
2. What made you choose to pursue your graduate degree here at Kent State?
   
   I decided to pursue my graduate degree in clinical psychology at Kent State because of the high research productivity and strong clinical training in my department. Particularly, my advisor, Dr. Karin Coifman, has provided me with excellent mentorship and support over the years. Being a graduate student, I also like the affordable cost of living and being close to places of interest like the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
    
3. What do you enjoy most about attending Kent State for graduate school?
   
   I really appreciate all the academic and financial support the university has provided to graduate students, which has allowed me to attend professional events such as local and international scientific conferences. Being able to participate in these activities has expanded my professional network and contributed to my development as a researcher.
    
4. What are your future goals?
   
   My goal following graduation is to continue building upon my research and, ultimately, work as a university professor, where I hope to conduct impactful clinical research, teach and mentor the next generation of clinical scientists.
    
5. What does this award mean to you and how will it aid you?
   
   It has been an honor to be awarded the University Fellowship and I believe that this is a recognition of the hard work that I have put into my academic career as a graduate student at Kent State. I am grateful for the University Fellowship, as it would allow me to devote more time toward completing my dissertation research and prepare me for the next stage of my career in academia.